Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-15
FAST DAY IN BURLINGTON.
+iOW THE DAY WAS OBSERVED IN
THs QUEEN CITY.
Business Generally experimentation
Services at the First Baptist Church,
Services at the Episcopal and
Catholic Churches.

Fast day was observed in the good old
fashioned way in this city Saturday
all classes entering heartily into the spirit
of the occasion. The day was one of the
most delightful that we have been favor
ed with this spring. A crisp bracing all
was combined with general sunshine in Il
manner that impaired buoyancy to the
feelings and rendered exercise in the oper
air a luxury. In the early morning the
streets were unusually active but as the
time for Fast Day services approached,
signs of business and traffic began to dis
appear and at noon places of business
we're generally closed. Union Fast Day
services were held at the First Baptist
and services were also held at ST. Paul's
and the Catholic churches, all Of which
we're more largely attended than usual.
THE UNION SERVICE.
The First and Berean Baptist, First and
Third Congregational and Methodist
churches united in service at the First
Baptist church at 10 30 o'clock. The house
was well filled. The opening services
were conducted by Rev. Mr. Gould of the
Berean Baptist, Rev. Mr. Carter of the
Third Congregational, Rev. DR.. Halves of
The First Congregational and Rev. Mr.
.McFarlan of the First Baptist church,
aud the sermon was preached by Rev
Dr. Eaton of the Methodist church. Music
was furnished by the chorus of the
church, with Mr.. Arthur Ayres at the
organ. The discourse was thoughtful
and earnest presentation of some of the
evils that threaten our nation. The fol
lowing is an abstract of it,
REV. DIR. EAToN's DISCOURSE.
Isaiah IS, 1. Cry aloud, tpare not, lift
up thy voice like trumpet and show my
people their transgression and the house
of Jacob their sins"
On this day, set apart by our governor
as a day of public humiliation and prayer
it is well to consider any reasons for such
humiliation and occasion for Gods par
donlng mercy to us as Il prople. Our
national vices, are mostly the abuse of our
national virtues, and as such we must
denounce them. One of the most promi
nent reasons for national humiliation is
our irreligion. A large part of our peo-
pie live In practical, not to say real, ire
Ilgion. AT least one third of our people
have no religion, no Sabbath, no apparent
recognition of supreme being, and are
therefore worse than the heather. for
among them there is some degree of rev.
erence in their religious ceremonies. This
lrrellSion may arise from the fact that we
have no direct recognition of religion
from the government, but nevertheless
our fathers did a wise thing in not ally
ing the two, for the church is more pow
erful morally than if shackled to the
state, but it has not used its power as it
should to elevate the people. Our religion
sits enthroned and does not go out
among the people as it ought, although
we have better opportunities than any
other nation to make its influence felt.
We worship an idol-the image of the
almighty dollar. We need to repent of
this evil and that speedily. The church
shonld build up moral empire among
those who are coming to us from other
lands. The future peace and prosperity
of our country is more closely linked with
the church than many seem to believe,
and its destinies are IN the hands of God
loving men. Our national irreligion and
lnroads on the sanctity of the Sab
bath point to the downfall and ruin
Of our institutions. We must bestir
ourselves and couuteract the Influences at
work in this direction.
IrreVerance is becoming national evil,
and children are too rapidly falling into
this. Young America is one of the sad
dest exhibitions of our time, and the ques-
ton is asked, "Have we any children ~
Newspapers are fruitful of this evil
There are some exceptions, but many are
a social and moral pestlence III our fam
lilies. Our journals try to exert more intlu-
ence by sensationalism than by real worth.
irreverence is nurtured by many papers
and in nothing is this fact more clearly
shown than in the treatment of a candi-
date for political office by papers of the
opposing party. His record is searched
and if nothing can be found against him
something is manufactured We should
humble ourselves before God for our ir
reverence.
The political aspect, too, shows that we
are fit subjects for humiliation. 1t is with
difficulty that statesman can be elected
to u high office. The places are filled
with wire pullers, and Congress and
our Legislatures have become arenas
for party strife and financial corruption.
IL is said that 1000 reputable voters in
New York city do not go to the polls. 1t
is a sin to refuse to exercise their rights in
this respect.
Intemperance and the enormous traffic
in Intoxicating liquors in this country
also furnish abundant cause for humiia-
ton. This is TIKI greatest of all evils, men
acing the foundation of our government,
and the only way to treat it is with open,
vigorous, perpetual warfare. There are
three distinct methods in which to do this
by penal educational and prohibitory meas
ures, all of which have been adopted by
our State. The first should be made more
stringent; the second promises good re-
suits, but might be broadened rs by teach
ing temperance in our schools; prohibi
ton laws have been adopted but are they
might be? Our church people and
professed temperance advocates are
asleep. We are very active in secur-
ing the passage of laws on the subject,
but then we SIT down and fold our hands.
We want vigorous work outside our tenn
perance meetings and then we shall be
rid of this monster evil.
AT ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
The usual full service was held at St.
Paul's church yesterday morning, Rev.
J. /. Bliss officiating, The subject of his
discourse was the closing scene at the cru
cifiXiOn with especial reference to the d v
ing words of Jesus. The speaker said
that the last words of eminent men are
often treasured up as having peculiar
significance, but the dying words of the
Saviour have for us great worth He
alone knew the meaning of the sacrifice
which he was making The prayer,
Father, forgive them" was offered Just
as it was to teach to us the Importance of
forgiveness. Aside from its other lessons